Members for sealing, baffling, or reinforcing

ABSTRACT

An article comprising: a carrier (12), activatable material (14) disposed on the carrier, one or more carrier extensions (16) extending from the carrier; wherein the article is adapted to provide sealing, baffling, or reinforcement within a structure&#39;s cavity.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a member, which is employedfor providing sealing, noise/vibration reduction, structuralreinforcement or a combination thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Industries, such as the automotive industry, rely on devices forbaffling, sealing, or reinforcing. Such members typically include anactivatable material, such as an expandable material, which may becombined with other components for forming a seal, a baffle, astructural reinforcement or the like in a cavity, such as cavity of anautomotive vehicle. U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,784,186; 7,249,415; 5,755,486;4,901,500; and 4,751,249, each of which is incorporated by reference,describe exemplary prior art devices for baffling, sealing, orreinforcing. There is a continuous need in the industry to providedimproved devices which provide for better installation within varyingtolerances, more rapid activation of the activatable material, andprovide for installation in a variety of cavity configurations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to an article comprising: a carrier;activatable material disposed on the carrier; and one or more carrierextensions extending from the carrier; wherein the article is adapted toprovide sealing, baffling, or reinforcement within a structure's cavity.

In some preferred embodiments, the article of the disclosure may includeone or more activatable material extensions. In some preferredembodiments, the article of the disclosure may include at least onehinge. In some preferred embodiments, the article of the disclosure mayinclude one or more fasteners. In some preferred embodiments, thearticle may include a receiving channel. In some preferred embodimentsone or more fasteners may be located in a differing plane from at leastone other fastener.

The disclosure further relates to a method of forming the article and amethod of using the article.

The article of the disclosure is able to be inserted into a cavity, suchas a vehicle cavity. The article of the disclosure is able to adapt tovarying tolerances within the cavity. The article of the disclosureprovides for more rapid activation of activatable material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a section view of an exemplary member capable of receiving aportion of the cavity according to the teachings herein.

FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C are section views of exemplary members with multiplefasteners according to the teachings herein.

FIG. 3 is a section view of an exemplary member according to theteachings herein.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an exemplary member according to theteachings herein.

FIG. 5 is a section view of an exemplary member within a cavityaccording to the teachings herein.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are section views of exemplary members with a partiallycircular carrier according to the teachings herein.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are section views of an exemplary member having at leastone hinge according to the teachings herein.

FIGS. 8 through 13 are section views of exemplary members withactivatable material in a variety of configurations disposed on thecarrier according to the teachings herein.

FIGS. 14 through 16 are section views of exemplary members able to passthrough multiple surfaces according to the teachings herein.

FIG. 17 is a section view of an exemplary member having a U-clipaccording to the teachings herein.

FIG. 18 is a section view of an exemplary member having a circularconfiguration according to the teachings herein

FIG. 19 is a section view of an exemplary member with multiple axesaccording to the teachings herein.

FIG. 20 is a section view of an exemplary member with multiple axesaccording to the teachings herein.

FIG. 21 is a section view of an exemplary member according to theteachings herein;

FIGS. 22A, 22B, 22C and 22D are section views of exemplary membersaccording to the teachings herein;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of an exemplary member according to theteachings herein;

FIG. 24 is a section view of an exemplary member according to theteachings herein;

FIG. 25 is a section view of an exemplary member according to theteachings herein;

FIG. 26 is a section views of an exemplary member according to theteachings herein;

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of an exemplary member according to theteachings herein;

FIG. 28 is a perspective view of an exemplary member according to theteachings herein;

FIG. 29 is a section view of an exemplary member according to theteachings herein;

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of an exemplary member according to theteachings herein;

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of an exemplary member according to theteachings herein;

FIGS. 32A and 32B are perspective views of exemplary members accordingto the teachings herein;

FIG. 33 is a section view of an exemplary member according to theteachings herein;

FIG. 34 is a section view of an exemplary member according to theteachings herein;

FIG. 35 is a section view of an exemplary member according to theteachings herein;

FIGS. 36A, 36B, 36C, 36D, 36E and 36F are section views of exemplarymembers according to the teachings herein;

FIG. 37 is a section view of an exemplary member according to theteachings herein;

FIG. 38 is a section view of an exemplary member according to theteachings herein;

FIG. 39 is a section view of an exemplary member according to theteachings herein;

FIG. 40 is a section view of an exemplary member according to theteachings herein;

FIG. 41 is a perspective view of an exemplary member according to theteachings herein;

FIGS. 42A and 42B are section views of exemplary members according tothe teachings herein;

FIG. 43 is a section view of an exemplary member according to theteachings herein;

FIG. 44 is a section view of an exemplary member according to theteachings herein;

FIG. 45 is a section view of an exemplary member according to theteachings herein;

FIG. 46 is a section view of an exemplary member according to theteachings herein;

FIG. 47 is a section view of an exemplary member according to theteachings herein;

FIG. 48 is a perspective view of an exemplary member according to theteachings herein;

FIG. 49 is a section view of an exemplary member according to theteachings herein;

FIG. 50 is a perspective view of an exemplary member according to theteachings herein;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The explanations and illustrations presented herein are intended toacquaint others skilled in the art with the invention, its principles,and its practical application. The specific embodiments of the presentinvention as set forth are not intended as being exhaustive or limitingof the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined withreference to the appended claims, along with the full scope ofequivalents to which such claims are entitled. The disclosures of allarticles and references, including patent applications and publications,are incorporated by reference for all purposes. Other combinations arealso possible as will be gleaned from the following claims, which arealso hereby incorporated by reference into this written description.

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S.Provisional Application Nos. 62/154,778, filed Apr. 30, 2015; and62/270,663, filed Dec. 22, 2015, the entirety of the contents of theseapplications being hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.The present teachings relate to an article which may be a member forproviding baffling, sealing, reinforcing, or a combination thereof to anarticle of manufacture. The member may include a carrier; activatablematerial disposed on the carrier; and one or more carrier extensionsextending from the carrier. The member may specifically be adapted toprovide sealing, baffling or reinforcement within a structure's cavity.It is contemplated that the member may be applied (e.g., assembled) tovarious articles of manufacture such as boats, trains, buildings, homes,furniture, or the like. It has been found however, that the member isparticularly suitable for application to automotive vehicles.

The article of the disclosure may further comprise any one or more ofthe features described in this specification in any combination,including the preferences and examples listed in this specification, andincluding the following features: one or more activatable materialextensions may extend from the activatable material; one or more carrierextensions may extend into the activatable material; the carrier mayinclude at least one hinge portion so that the carrier is flexible; thecarrier may be comprised of a pliable material; the carrier may includeone or more fasteners; portions of the carrier may be located indifferent planes from one another; at least one fastener may be locatedin a differing plane from at least one other fastener; the activatablematerial may be at least partially disposed on at least one fastener;the carrier may form a circle or a portion of a circle; the one or morecarrier extensions may extend outward radially from the carrier; thecarrier my split into two distinct portions; the carrier may include areceiving channel; the activatable material may have a curved profile;the activatable material may extend beyond an end of the carrier; theactivatable material may be disposed on the carrier between one or morecarrier extensions.

The carrier may have a longitudinal axis. The carrier may include one ormore extensions. The one or more extensions may extend from a centralportion of the carrier, which central portion may be in substantialalignment with the longitudinal axis. The one or more extensions may bearranged in a substantially perpendicular arrangement with the centralportion of the carrier. Alternatively, the one or more extensions mayextend from the central portion of the carrier at a skew angle. Thecarrier may include extensions that extend at both skew andperpendicular angles. The central portion of the carrier may bisect theone or more extensions. The central portion of the carrier may splitinto two distinct split portions where said split portions may besubstantially parallel to one another or may be arranged in anon-parallel relationship. The split portions may be located at aterminating end of the carrier. The split portions may be formed suchthat they act as a fastener for locating the carrier in a desiredlocation such that the split portions are located into and/or through anopening. The activatable material maybe located onto substantially theentirety of the carrier or alternatively may be located onto onlyportions of the carrier. The activatable material may substantiallyentirely enclose the entirety of the carrier. Alternatively, theactivatable material may substantially enclose only portions of thecarrier. The activatable material may be located onto any portion of thecarrier that forms a fastener. The activatable material maysubstantially enclose any portion of the carrier which forms a fastener.Any portion of the carrier which forms a fastener may also besubstantially free of any activatable material.

The carrier may include a plurality of fasteners which may be integrallyformed with the carrier or separately formed from the carrier. Thecarrier may be flexible and thus may be formed to facilitate movement ofthe carrier along more than one axis. Portions of the carrier may belocated in different planes from one another. A carrier includingmultiple fasteners may be formed so that a first fastener is located ina first plane and a second fastener is located in a second plane that isdifferent from the first plane. The carrier may include one or morecurved portions. The carrier may include hinge portions to facilitateflexing or may alternatively be substantially free of any hinge portionssuch that flexing is facilitated by the pliable material used to formthe carrier and the material thickness. The plurality of fasteners maybe arranged parallel to one another. The plurality of fasteners may bearranged such that a first fastener may be perpendicular to a secondfastener. The carrier may have sufficient flexibility so that prior toinsertion into openings, a first fastener and second fastener may belocated parallel to one another (e.g., in a first position relative toeach other), but during use and upon insertion into openings, the firstand second fasteners are located in a non-parallel relationship relativeto each other (e.g., in a second position relative to each other). Thecarrier may be arranged in an “M” shape. The carrier may besubstantially continuous including no free end portions or one or lessend portions. The carrier may include a t-shaped portion. The carriermay include a plurality of t-shaped portions. The carrier may includeopposing t-shaped portions. The carrier may include an activatablematerial which may be located only onto select portion of the carrier.The activatable material may substantially enclose the entirety of thecarrier. The activatable material may be located onto the fasteners.Alternatively, the fasteners may be substantially free of anyactivatable material located thereon.

The carrier may include one or more fasteners that are located so thatthey correspond with openings formed in a wall. The carrier may includea plurality of fasteners located adjacent one another to be located intoa plurality of adjacent wall openings. The carrier may be formed so thata first portion of the carrier includes activatable material located ononly a single surface of the carrier, whereas a second portion of thecarrier is substantially surrounded by the activatable material. Thecarrier may include portions having a material thickness that is greaterthan the material thickness at other portions of the carrier. Theportions having a greater thickness may be arranged in a position thatis substantially parallel to or substantially perpendicular to a portionhaving a smaller thickness. The activatable material may extend beyondan end of the carrier. Alternatively, the activatable material may besubstantially coextensive with an end of the carrier.

The carrier may include a portion that is curved. The curved portion mayform a circle or a portion of a circle. Any extensions extending fromthe carrier may extend from a curved portion. The extensions may besubstantially planar or may include a curved portion. The carrier may becurved and may include a plurality of extensions that extend outwardradially from the carrier. A fastener may be included on one or more ofthe extensions. Alternatively, a fastener may extend from the carrier ina location that is distinct from the extensions. The fastener may extendin a direction that opposes one or more of the extensions. The fastenermay be located adjacent an extension that opposes the remainingextensions. The activatable material may be located onto one surface ofthe carrier or onto multiple surfaces of the carrier. The activatablematerial may be located onto at least one surface of one or moreextensions. The activatable material may be located onto exactly onesurface of each extension. The fastener may include a first portion thatrests adjacent an opening such that the first portion does not enterinto the opening. The first portion of the fastener may be shaped sothat it is too large to fits through an opening. The fastener mayinclude a second portion that is located into and/or through an opening.

The carrier may include one or more hinge portions. One or more of thehinge portions may be free of any bending along the hinge until pressureis applied to one or more carrier portions adjacent the hinge portion.The hinge portions may be formed by portions of the carrier having athinner cross section than adjacent portions of the carrier. The hingeportions may be formed by portions of the carrier that have a preformedcurved shape. The hinge portions may include a fastener. The carrier mayinclude a single hinge portion or may include a plurality of hingeportions. The carrier may be formed so that it is substantially planaruntil it is located into contact with one or more wall structurescausing the carrier to form a shape that corresponds to the shape of thewall structures whereby the hinge portions facilitate the forming.

The activatable material itself may be formed to have a curved profile.In the event that the activatable material is not co-extensive with thecarrier, the activatable material that extends beyond an end of thecarrier may be curved. Any angle of curvature for one or more of thecarrier and activatable material may be selected based upon the intendedlocation of the device which may depend upon the shape of a cavity intowhich the device is to be located. The carrier and/or activatablematerial may be curved in a single direction or may be curved inmultiple directions. The curve may form a substantially u-shaped orsubstantially v-shaped device.

At least a portion of the carrier may have a thin profile (e.g., aprofile that is thinner than adjacent portions of the carrier). The thinprofile portion may be such that it can be located in areas where thesurface upon which the carrier is located must remain substantiallyflat. The thin profile portion may be connected to a fastener having asubstantially thicker profile such that the thickness of the fastenerassists in maintaining the thin profile portion in a flat position on asurface adjacent the fastener. The fastener may be shaped to includesurfaces that lie in direct planar contact with a surface that liesadjacent an opening (e.g., an opening into which the fastener islocated). The fastener may be an arrowhead fastener whereby one or moreterminal ends of the arrowhead include surfaces formed to contact andexert a force on a surface adjacent an opening in wall.

The carrier may include a plurality of adjacent extensions withactivatable material located therebetween. The extensions may be ofdiffering length or may be substantially similar in length. A firstextension having a first length may be located in between two adjacentsecond extensions having a length that is shorter than the firstlengths. Alternatively, a first extension may have a first length thatis shorter than the length of one or more adjacent extensions. Thecarrier may have extensions that extend away from one another or towardone another. The area between one or more extensions may besubstantially free of any activatable material. Alternatively, the areabetween one or more extensions may be substantially filled withactivatable material, or may be only partially filled with activatablematerial.

The carrier may be formed into an L-shape. An L-shaped carrier mayinclude a fastener that extends from either side of the ‘L’. The carriermay include portions that form a y-shape and also portions that form at-shaped. The y and t shape portions may substantially oppose oneanother. A fastener may extend from the t portion, the y portion, orboth the y portion and t portion. The carrier may include a fastenerlocated at a central location along the carrier. The portion of thecarrier adjacent the fastener may have a thinner cross section thanother portions of the carrier. The portion of the carrier adjacent thefastener may have a cross section that is thicker than other portions ofthe carrier. A first side of the carrier adjacent the fastener may havea thinner cross section than a second side of the carrier adjacent thefastener.

The carrier may have fasteners located at one or more terminating endsof the carrier. The carrier may include exactly two terminating ends andexactly two fasteners, one located at each terminating end. The carriermay have two fasteners located in a central portion of the carrier. Thecarrier may include two fasteners and both fasteners are located towardone side or end of the carrier.

The carrier may be c-shaped with curved edges or c-shaped with squareedges. The carrier may have a serpentine or s-shape. The carrier mayhave a u-shaped, whereby the activatable material is not co-extensivewith one or more ends of the carrier. The carrier may form a square. Theactivatable material may be located along the outside of the square,along the inside of the square or along both the outside and inside ofthe square. The carrier may be formed as a full square or as a partialsquare. The carrier may be formed as concentric circles or as portionsof concentric circles. The activatable material may be located betweenthe concentric circles. The activatable material may be located on onlyone surface of each concentric circle or on multiple surfaces of eachconcentric circle. The carrier may be substantially L-shaped and mayinclude activatable material located surrounding the entirety of thecarrier. The carrier may be formed as adjacent circles, each circleincluding one or more extensions or alternatively no extensions at all.The carrier may be formed as two opposing t-shaped portions.

Formation of the member of the disclosure may include a variety ofprocessing steps depending on the desired configuration of the member.In any event, it is generally contemplated that the carrier and theactivatable material may be manually attached to each other,automatically attached to each other, or a combination thereof.Moreover, various processes such as molding (e.g., compression,injection, or other molding), extrusion, pultrusion, or the like may beused to form the carrier, the activatable material, the one or morefasteners, the one or more carrier extensions, the one or moreactivatable material extensions, and such processes may be employed toattach these components together. One or more of the carrier and/oractivatable material may be formed in processes disclosed in U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/074,237, incorporated by reference hereinfor all purposes.

The method of forming the member of the disclosure may compriseproviding a carrier material and extruding and/or pultruding anactivatable material on at least a portion of the carrier material,whereby the activatable material may be co-extruded and/or pultrudedwith the carrier material.

The method of forming the member of the disclosure may further compriseany one or more of the following steps or features described in thisspecification in any combination, including the preferences and exampleslisted in this specification, and including the following: the methodmay include installing the member into the cavity, such as a vehiclecavity; the method may comprise activating the activatable material sothat it expands and substantially fills the cavity; the carrier materialmay be provided by extrusion; the carrier material may be simultaneouslyextruded with the activatable material; the activatable material and/orthe carrier material may be further extruded to form a profileconfiguration; and the one or more fasteners may be formed as part ofthe carrier material or separate from the carrier material.

The carrier may comprise a polymeric material, a metallic material, or acombination thereof. The carrier may comprise a composite material, awoven material, or a combination thereof. The activatable material maycomprise an epoxy. One or more of the carrier material and/oractivatable material may comprise a composite article that is formed bycontacting an epoxy/amine reaction product material (e.g., a materialthat is a reaction product of a diepoxide and a primary amine, such asmonoethanolamine, or the reaction product of a diepoxide resin (e.g.,BPA), a mono primary amine, a di-secondary amine, a dimer captan and/ora di-carboxylic acid) during a step of extrusion, injection molding,pultrusion or any combination thereof. The contacting may be only afterthe reaction has completed between the epoxy and the amine (e.g., onlyafter the reaction of epoxy and amine), as described in U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/130,908, incorporated by reference herein for allpurposes.

FIG. 1 is a section view of an exemplary member capable of receiving aportion of the cavity. The member 10 includes a carrier 12 with anactivatable material 14 located thereon. The carrier may include one ormore carrier extensions 16. The activatable material 14 may include oneor more activatable material extensions 18. The carrier 12 may have alongitudinal axis. The carrier 12 may split into two or more distinctportions along at least a portion of its length. For example, thecarrier 12 may split into two end extensions 20 with a receiving channel22 therebetween. The receiving channel 20 may only extend partially intothe carrier 12. For example, the one or more end extensions 20 and thereceiving channel 22 may form a U-clip. The receiving channel 22 mayreceive a panel, flange, or other portion of a cavity. The activatablematerial 14 may only be disposed on one surface of the end extensions20, preferably it is disposed on the outer surface 24 opposing thereceiving channel 22. The receiving channel 22 may be wider at theopening and narrow as it continues into the carrier 12. A hinge 26 maybe formed on each end extension 20. A hinge 27 may be formed on theactivatable material 14 disposed on the end extension's 20 hinge 26. Thehinges 26, 27 may allow the one or more end extensions 20 to deflectand/or bend as a panel or flange (not shown) is inserted into thereceiving channel 22.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C illustrate section views of alternative exemplarymulti-clip members 110. The member includes a carrier 112 with anactivatable material 114 located thereon. The carrier 112 may haveportions along multiple axes. The carrier may include one or morecarrier extensions 116. The one or more carrier extensions 116 mayextend into the activatable material 114. The activatable material mayor may not have activatable material extensions (not shown). One or morefasteners 128 may be attached to the member 110, preferably attached tothe carrier 12. The one or more fasteners 128 may be integral with thecarrier 112 or formed separately from the carrier 112. The fastener 128may include a pair of first extensions 130 and a pair of secondextensions 132. The fasteners 128 may be located in differing axis orplanes, such that the member 110 may be installed into a cavity (notshown) with receiving holes (not shown) on walls with differing planes,curved walls, non-planar walls, and the like. The receiving holes (notshown) may having varying distances therebetween due to toleranceranges. The member 110 may be flexible such that it accommodates varyingtolerances in the receiving holes. For example, the carrier 112 may beflexible such that the distances between fasteners 128 may adapt todiffering distances between the receiving holes in the cavity.

FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 illustrate another exemplary member 210 which may beinserted within a cavity 234, such as a cavity of an automotive vehicle.FIG. 4 shows that the member 210 is elongated with a carrier 212 and anactivatable material 214 located thereon. The carrier 212 may includeone or more carrier extensions 216. The activatable material 214 mayinclude one or more activatable material extensions 218. The carrierextensions 216 may extend into the activatable material 214, such as theactivatable material extensions 218. The member 210 may be elongated, asillustrated in FIG. 4 . One or more fasteners 228 may extend from thecarrier 212. The one or more fasteners 228 may be located at a firstterminating end and/or second terminating end of the carrier 212. Theone or more fasteners 228 may include a first pair of extensions 230.The one or more fasteners 228 may include a second pair of extensions232. The fastener 228 may use only the first pair of extensions 230, thesecond pair of extensions 232, or both. The activatable material 214 maybe extruded over a portion of the carrier 212. For example, theactivatable material extensions 218 may be extruded over the carrierextensions 216. The activatable material 214 may be co-extruded with thecarrier 212. In the embodiment as shown, the carrier extensions 216 andactivatable material extensions 218 extend along the entire length ofthe carrier 212. However, it is contemplated that the carrier extensions216, the activatable material extensions 218, or both the carrierextensions 216 and the activatable material extensions 218 may beintermittent along the length of the carrier 212.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate section views of alternative exemplarymembers 310 with a partially circular carrier 312. The member 310 mayinclude a carrier 312 and activatable material 314 thereon. The carrier312 may have a circular cross-section, rectangular cross-section, or anyother suitable shape for providing baffling, sealing, or reinforcement.A base section 311 may extend from the carrier 312. The carrier 312 maybe partially circular, arched, have a radius, or curve along its length.For example 312, the carrier 312 may partially encircle about the basesection 311. The carrier may include one or more carrier extensions 316.One or more carrier extensions 316 may extend from the carrier basesection 311. The activatable material 314 may be placed on the one ormore portions of the carrier 312. The activatable material 314 mayinclude activatable material extensions 318. The activatable material314 may be located on the carrier base portion 311 and the carrier 312.The activatable material extensions 318 may be disposed on the carrierextensions 316, such as the carrier extensions 316 extending from thebase portion 311. The activatable material extensions 318 may extendfrom activatable material 314 disposed on the carrier 312, such as inthe shape of fins. The activatable material extensions 318 may have oneor more carrier extensions 316 therethrough or may be free of the one ormore carrier extensions 316. If the carrier 312 has a rectangularcross-section, the activatable material extensions 318 may extend fromthe activatable material 314 located on a first surface of the carrier312, as shown in FIG. 6A. If the carrier 312 has a circularcross-section, the activatable material extensions 318 may extendoutward radially from just a portion of the surface of the activatablematerial 314 located on the carrier 312, as shown in FIG. 6A. Theactivatable material extensions 318 may extend from the activatablematerial 314 located on multiple surfaces of the carrier 312, such asboth the first surface and second surface of the carrier 312, if thecarrier 312 includes a rectangular cross-section, as shown in FIG. 6B.The activatable material extensions 318 may extend radially outwardalong the entire outer diameter of carrier 312, if the carrier 312 has acircular cross-section, as shown in FIG. 6B. The activatable materialextensions 318 may be located across from one another, as shown, or inan alternating pattern. The partially circular carrier 312, the carrierextensions 316, the activatable material extensions 318, or acombination thereof, may provide for more rapid activation of theactivatable material 314. For example, if the activatable material 314is heat activated, the dispersion of the activatable material extensions318 allow the activatable material 314 to reach an activationtemperature more rapidly than if the activatable material 314 wereplaced in a solid, continuous manner along the length of the carrier312. The activatable material 314 may be extruded over the carrier 312or may be co-extruded with the carrier 312. The carrier may include oneor more fasteners 328. The fastener 328 may include barbs 331 forretaining the fastener to a wall, panel, or other surface. The barbs 331may engage with a receiving hole (not shown). The one or more fasteners328 may be integral with the carrier 312. The carrier 312 may split intotwo or more portions along at least a portion of its length. Forexample, the carrier 312 may be split into two sections along the lengthof the one or more fasteners 328.

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate a cross-section of exemplary member 410 whichmay be hinged. The exemplary member includes a carrier 412 andactivatable material 414 disposed thereon. The carrier 412 may includeone or more carrier extensions 416. The carrier extensions 416 may atleast partially extend into the activatable material 414. The carrier412 may include one or more hinges 440, 442. A first hinge 440 may allowthe carrier 412 to bend along its length. For example, the first hinge440 may allow the carrier 412 to form a right angle as illustrated inFIG. 7B. A second hinge 442, may allow the carrier 412 to bend along itslength. For example the second hinge 442 may allow the carrier to forman acute angle as illustrated in FIG. 7B. The first hinge 440, thesecond hinge 442, or both hinges may allow the carrier to bend at anangle of at least 90 degrees or more such as to form a 90 degree angleor a smaller, acute angle. The member 410 may include a fastener 444 forretaining the member 410 in a hinged position. The member 410 mayinclude an opening 446 for receiving and engaging the fastener 444. Themember 410 may include a clip 448 for affixing the exemplary member 410to a structure, such as within a vehicle cavity (not shown). The clip448 may extend from the carrier 412. The clip 448 may designed as a penclip which receives a portion of a panel, structure, flange, or thelike. The clip 448 be receiving a structure (not shown) may retain themember 410 within a cavity (not shown).

FIGS. 8-13 illustrate exemplary member 510 having a variety ofactivatable material 514 configurations. The exemplary member includes acarrier 512 and activatable material 514 disposed thereon. The carrier512 may include carrier extensions 516. The carrier 512 may include oneor more fasteners 528. The activatable material 514 may includeactivatable material extensions 518. The carrier 512 may be flexible,the activatable material 514 may be flexible, or both the carrier 512and the activatable material 514 may be flexible. The carrier 512, theactivatable material 514 or both may include one or more hinges. Forexample, the activatable material 514 may include one or more hinges 527on the activatable material extensions 518 as shown in FIG. 10 . Theactivatable material 514 may have a varying thickness along the lengthof the member 510. The activatable material 514 may extend away from thecarrier 512, such that the carrier 512 does not provide support forportions of the activatable material 514. The activatable material 514,and the activatable material extensions 518, may be partially circular,as shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 13 . The activatable material 514 mayinclude c-shaped sections, such as in FIG. 11 and FIG. 13 . Theactivatable material 514 may include u-shaped sections, such as in FIG.10 . The activatable material 514 may increase in width as it extendsaway from the carrier 512, such as in FIG. 8 . The activatable materialextensions 518 may extend from the activatable material 514 in anL-shape or at an angle greater or less than 90 degrees, such as shown inFIG. 9 and FIG. 12 .

FIGS. 14-16 illustrate varying configurations of exemplary member 610.The exemplary member 610 includes a carrier 612 and activatable material614 disposed thereon. The carrier 612 may include a base portion 611,carrier extensions 616, or both. The activatable material 614 may bedisposed on the base portion 611, for example on the base portion 611and in between carrier extensions 616. The exemplary member 610 may beable to pass through one surface or multiple surfaces. The exemplarymember 610 may be able to retain to one surface or multiple surfaces.For example, the exemplary member 610 may go through a first surface anda second surface, by inserting the bottom portion 650 through an openingand applying force to the exemplary member 610. The exemplary member mayretain a first surface (not shown) or multiple surfaces between a firstset of carrier extensions 615. The exemplary member may retain a secondsurface (not shown) or multiple surfaces between a second set of carrierextensions 617.

FIG. 17 illustrates an exemplary member 710 in a U-Clip configuration.The exemplary member 710 includes a carrier 712 and activatable material714 disposed thereon. The exemplary member 710 may be able to receive amember, such as a flange, panel, or the like. For example, the carrier712 may be formed in a U-shape. The carrier 712 may include a receivingchannel 722. The exemplary member 710 may be able to be fastened orsecured to a member, such as a panel, cavity wall, or the like. Forexample, a fastener 728 may extend from the carrier 712. The fastener728 may be adapted to fit in an opening of a panel, cavity wall, or thelike. The activatable material 714 may include activatable materialextensions 718 extending away from the carrier 712. For example, theexemplary member 710 may include activatable material extensions 718extending away from the carrier 712 between the base of the carrier 750and the fastener 728.

FIG. 18 illustrates an exemplary member 810 in circular configuration.The exemplary member 810 includes a carrier 812 and activatable material814 disposed thereon. The carrier 812 may be circular or any other shapebest suited to be disposed with a cavity (not shown). The carrier 812may be solid, hollow, or a combination of both. Preferably, the carrier812 is hollow to provide for a lighter weight member 810. The carrier812 may include carrier extensions 816. The carrier extensions 816 maybe designed as ribs, fins, barbs, or the like. The carrier extensions816 may completely or partially encircle the carrier 812. The carrierextensions 816 may extend outward radially from the carrier 812. Thecarrier extensions 816 may be continuous along the length of the carrier812 or may be disposed intermittently. The activatable material 814 maybe disposed on the exterior surface of the carrier 812. For example, theactivatable material 814 may be disposed on the carrier 812 between thecarrier extensions 816, on the carrier extensions 816, or a combinationof both. Preferably, the activatable material 814 is disposed betweenthe carrier extensions 816 on the carrier 812. Preferably, theactivatable material 814 is disposed on the outer surface 836 of thecarrier 812.

FIG. 19 illustrates an exemplary member 910 having a carrier 912 withmultiple axes. The member 910 includes a carrier 912 with activatablematerial 914 disposed thereon. Portions of the carrier may extend awayfrom the member's 910 center in differing directions, planes, and/oraxes. The carrier 912 may include one or more carrier extensions 916.The one or more carrier extensions 916 may extend from the center of thecarrier 912. The activatable material 914 may be disposed on the carrier912 between one or more carrier extensions 916. The carrier 912 mayinclude one or more fasteners 928.

FIG. 20 illustrates an exemplary member 1110 extending along multipleaxes. The member 1110 includes a carrier 1112 with activatable material1114 disposed thereon. The carrier 1112 may include carrier extensions1116 that extend away from the center of the carrier 1112. The carrierextensions 1116 may extend outward radially from the center of thecarrier 1112. The activatable material 1114 may be disposed in betweentwo or more of the carrier extensions 1116. The activatable material1114 may be disposed in a circular or spherical shape.

FIG. 21 illustrates a section view of an exemplary member in asubstantially L-shaped configuration. The member 2010 includes a carrier2012 with an activatable material 2014 located thereon. The carrier 2012may include a curved portion. The carrier 2012 may include portions thatform an L-shape. The carrier 2012 may include one or more carrierextensions 2016. The one or more carrier extensions 2016 may extend intothe activatable material 2014. The activatable material 2014 may haveone or more curved portions. The activatable material 2014 may extendbeyond an end of the carrier 2012. The carrier 2012 may include one ormore fasteners 2028. The one or more fasteners 2028 may be integrallyformed with the carrier 2012.

FIGS. 22A, 22B, 22C and 22D illustrate section views of exemplarymembers which include one or more T-shaped portions. The member 2110includes a carrier 2112 with an activatable material 2114 locatedthereon. The carrier 2112 may include portions that form a T-shape. Thecarrier 2112 may include one or more carrier extensions 2116. The one ormore carrier extensions 2116 may extend into the activatable material2114. The activatable material 2114 may substantially entirely enclosethe entirety of the carrier 2112. The carrier 2112 may include one ormore fasteners 2128. The one or more fasteners 2128 may be integrallyformed with the carrier 2112. The carrier 2112 may include a fastener2128 located at a central location along the carrier 2112 as shown inFIGS. 22A and 22B. The carrier 2112 may include a fastener 2128 locatedat one end of the carrier 2112 as shown in FIGS. 22C and 22D. Thefastener 2128 may have a substantially thicker profile than the carrier2112 as shown in FIG. 22D.

FIG. 23 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary member 2210 withactivatable material 2214 located along the entirety of one surface andalong a portion of another surface of the carrier 2212. The carrier 2212may include one or more curved portions. The carrier 2212 may includeone or more carrier extensions 2216. The activatable material 2214 mayhave a curved profile. The carrier 2212 may include a plurality offasteners 2228 which may be integrally formed with the carrier 2212. Theone or more fasteners may be located in a differing plane from at leastone other fastener 2228.

FIG. 24 illustrates a section view of an exemplary member 2310 withactivatable material 2314 located along one surface of the carrier 2312and extending beyond both ends of the carrier 2312 in opposingdirections. The carrier 2312 may include one or more curved portions.The carrier 2312 may include one or more carrier extensions 2316. Thecarrier extensions 2316 may extend at both skew and perpendicularangles. One or more carrier extensions 2316 may extend into theactivatable material 2314. The activatable material 2314 may includeactivatable material extensions 2318 which may extend beyond the ends ofthe carrier 2312. The activatable material extensions 2318 may differ inshape from the activatable material located on the carrier 2312. Thecarrier 2312 may include one or more fasteners 2328. The one or morefasteners 2328 may be integrally formed with the carrier 2312. Thecarrier may include a fastener 2328 located at a central location alongthe carrier 2312.

FIG. 25 illustrates a section view of an exemplary member with L-shapedportions. The member 2410 includes a carrier 2412 with an activatablematerial 2414 located thereon. The carrier 2412 may include portionsthat form an L-shape. The carrier 2412 may include one or more carrierextensions 2416. The one or more carrier extensions 2416 may extend intothe activatable material 2414. The activatable material 2414 maysubstantially entirely enclose the entirety of the carrier 2412. Thecarrier 2412 may include one or more fasteners 2428. The fasteners 2428may be substantially free of any activatable material 2414 locatedthereon. The fastener 2428 may be an arrowhead fastener. The fastener2428 may include barbs 2431 for retaining the fastener to a wall, panel,or other surface. The one or more fasteners 2428 may be integral withthe carrier 2412.

FIG. 26 illustrates a section view of an exemplary member with asubstantially cross-shaped profile. The member 2510 includes a carrier2512 with an activatable material 2514 located thereon. The carrier 2512may include portions that form a T-shape. The carrier 2512 may includeone or more carrier extensions 2516. The one or more carrier extensions2516 may extend into the activatable material 2514. The carrier 2512 mayinclude one or more fasteners 2528. The one or more fasteners 2428 maybe integral with the carrier 2512. The fasteners 2528 may besubstantially free of any activatable material 2514 located thereon. Thefastener 2528 may be substantially U-shaped. The fastener 2528 mayinclude barbs 2531 for retaining the fastener to a wall, panel, or othersurface.

FIG. 27 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary member in asubstantially L-shaped configuration. The member 2610 includes a carrier2612 with an activatable material 2614 located thereon. The carrier 2612may include one or more curved portions. The carrier 2612 may includeone or more carrier extensions 2616. The carrier extensions 2616 may besubstantially planar or may include a curved portion. The carrierextensions 2616 may extend at both skew and perpendicular angles. Theone or more carrier extensions 2616 may extend into the activatablematerial 2614. The activatable material 2614 may include one or moreactivatable material extensions 2618. The carrier 2412 may include oneor more fasteners 2628. The fasteners 2628 may be substantially free ofany activatable material 2614 located thereon.

FIG. 28 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary member in asubstantially U-shaped configuration. The exemplary member 2710 includesa carrier 2712 and activatable material 2714 disposed thereon. Theactivatable material 2714 may be located onto only the outer surface ofthe carrier 2712. The carrier 2712 may include a receiving channel 2722.

FIG. 29 illustrates a section view of an exemplary member in asubstantially arrow shaped configuration. The member 2810 includes acarrier 2812 with an activatable material 2814 located thereon. Theactivatable material 2814 may substantially enclose the carrier 2812.The carrier 2812 may include one or more carrier extensions 2816. Thecarrier 2812 may include one or more fasteners 2828. The fastener 2828may be an arrowhead fastener.

FIG. 30 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary member withvarying thickness along certain portions. The member 2910 includes acarrier 2912 with an activatable material 2914 located thereon. Thecarrier 2912 may include portions having a material thickness that isgreater than the material thickness at other portions of the carrier2912. The activatable material 2914 may have a varying thickness. Thecarrier 2912 may include carrier extensions 2916 that extend at skewangles. The carrier 2912 may include a plurality of fasteners 2928. Theplurality of fasteners 2928 may be arranged such that a first fastenermay be parallel to a second fastener.

FIG. 31 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary member withmultiple axes. The member 3010 includes a carrier 3012 with anactivatable material 3014 located thereon. Portions of the carrier mayextend away from the member's 3010 center in differing directions,planes, and/or axes. The carrier 3012 may include one or more carrierextensions 3016. The one or more carrier extensions 3016 may extend intothe activatable material 3014. The activatable material 3014 may bedisposed on the carrier 3012 between one or more carrier extensions3016. The carrier 3012 may include one or more fasteners 3028. The oneor more fasteners 3028 may be integral with the carrier 3012.

FIGS. 32A and 32B illustrate perspective views of exemplary members 3110with activatable material 3114 located along one surface of the carrier3112. The carrier 3112 may include one or more curved portions. Thecarrier 3112 may include one or more carrier extensions 3116. Thecarrier extensions 3116 may be located along the ends of the carrier asshown in FIG. 32A. The carrier extensions 3116 may be located along thelength of the carrier as shown in FIG. 32B. The carrier extensions 3112may extend at skew angles. The one or more carrier extensions 3116 mayextend into the activatable material 3114. The activatable material 3114may extend beyond the ends of the carrier 3112. The carrier 3112 mayinclude one or more fasteners 3128. The one or more fasteners 3128 maybe integral with the carrier 3112.

FIG. 33 illustrates a section view of an exemplary member in asubstantially U-shaped configuration. The exemplary member 3210 includesa carrier 3212 and activatable material 3214 disposed thereon. Theactivatable material 3214 may be located onto multiple surfaces of thecarrier 3212. The activatable material 3214 may have a varying thicknessalong different surfaces of the carrier 3212. The activatable material3214 may have a varying thickness along same surfaces of the carrier3212. The activatable material 3214 may have as a substantially U-shapedprofile. The carrier 3212 may include one or more carrier extensions3216. The one or more one carrier extensions 3216 may be located alongthe ends of the carrier. The carrier extensions 3216 may be of differinglength. The carrier extensions 3216 may be parallel to each other andperpendicular to the carrier 3212. The carrier 3212 may include areceiving channel 3222.

FIG. 34 illustrates a section view of an exemplary member 3310. Theexemplary member 3310 includes a carrier 3312 and activatable material3314 disposed thereon. The carrier 3312 may include one or more carrierextensions 3316. The carrier extensions 3316 may be of differing length.The carrier extensions 3316 may be substantially planar or may include acurved portion. The one or more carrier extensions 3316 may extend intothe activatable material 3314. The activatable material 3314 may includeone or more activatable material extensions 3318. The activatablematerial 3314 may have a varying thickness along the carrier 3312. Thecarrier 3312 may include one or more fasteners 3328. The one or morefasteners 3328 may be integral with the carrier 3312.

FIG. 35 illustrates a section view of an exemplary member 3410 withactivatable material 3414 located along one surface of the carrier 3412and extending beyond an end of the carrier 3412. The carrier 3412 mayinclude one or more curved portions. The carrier may include one or morecarrier extensions 3416. The carrier extensions 3416 may besubstantially planar or may include a curved portion. The one or morecarrier extensions 3416 may extend into the activatable material 3414. Aportion of the activatable material 3414 may have a curved profile. Theactivatable material 3414 may include one or more activatable materialextensions 3418. The carrier 3412 may include one or more fasteners3128. The one or more fasteners 3428 may be integral with the carrier3412.

FIGS. 36A, 36B, 36C, 36D, 36E and 36F illustrate section views ofexemplary members in a substantially J-shaped configuration. The member3510 includes a carrier 3512 with an activatable material 3514 locatedthereon. One side of the carrier 3512 may differ in length from theother side of the carrier. The activatable material 3514 may have avarying thickness along the carrier 3512. The carrier 3512 may includeone or more carrier extensions 3516 as shown in FIGS. 36C, 36D, 36E and36F. The carrier 3512 may include one or more fasteners 3528. The one ormore fasteners 3528 may be integral with the carrier 3512. The carriermay include a fastener 3528 located at a central or substantiallycentral location along the carrier 3512.

FIG. 37 illustrates a section view of an exemplary member 3610 withactivatable material 3614 located along a surface of the carrier 3612and extending beyond both ends of the carrier 3612. The carrier 3612 mayinclude one or more curved portions. The carrier 3612 may include one ormore carrier extensions 3616. The carrier extensions 3616 may extend atperpendicular angles. The activatable material 3614 may includeactivatable material extensions 3618 which may extend beyond the ends ofthe carrier 3612. The carrier 3612 may include one or more fasteners3628. The one or more fasteners 3628 may be integrally formed with thecarrier 3612.

FIG. 38 illustrates a section view of an exemplary member 3710 with avarying thickness along certain portions of the carrier 3712. The member3710 includes a carrier 3712 with an activatable material 3714 locatedthereon. The carrier 3712 may include one or more carrier extensions3716. The activatable material 3714 may substantially enclose a portionof the carrier 3712. The carrier 3712 may include one or more fasteners3728. The one or more fasteners 3728 may be integrally formed with thecarrier 3712.

FIG. 39 illustrates a section view of an exemplary member in asubstantially C-shaped configuration. The member 3810 includes a carrier3812 with an activatable material 3814 located thereon. The activatablematerial 3814 may be located along the entirety of one surface and alonga portion of another surface of the carrier 3812. The carrier 3812 mayinclude one or more carrier extensions 3816. The activatable material3814 may have a curved profile. The carrier 3812 may include a pluralityof fasteners 3828 which may be integrally formed with the carrier 3812.

FIG. 40 illustrates a section view of an exemplary member 3910. Theexemplary member 3910 includes a carrier 3912 and activatable material3914 disposed thereon. The carrier 3912 may include one or more carrierextensions 3916. The carrier extensions 3916 may be of differing length.The carrier extensions 3916 may be substantially planar or may include acurved portion. The one or more carrier extensions 3916 may extend intothe activatable material 3914. The activatable material 3914 may includeone or more activatable material extensions 3918. The activatablematerial 3914 may have a varying thickness along the carrier 3912. Theactivatable material 3914 may be located along the entirety of onesurface and along a portion of another surface of the carrier 3912. Thecarrier 3912 may include one or more fasteners 3928. The one or morefasteners 3928 may be integral with the carrier 3912.

FIG. 41 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary member 4010 witha substantially planar carrier 4012 and activatable material 4014disposed thereon. The carrier 4012 may include one or more carrierextensions 4016. The activatable material 4014 may be located along theentirety of one surface the carrier 4012. The carrier 4012 may includeone or more fasteners 4028. The one or more fasteners 4028 may beintegral with the carrier 4012.

FIGS. 42A and 42B illustrate section views of exemplary members in asubstantially half circle configuration. The exemplary member 4110includes a carrier 4112 and activatable material 4114 disposed thereon.The carrier 4112 may include one or more carrier extensions 4116. Theactivatable material 4114 may be disposed along the entirety of theinner and outer surface of the carrier 4112 as shown in FIG. 42A. Theactivatable material 4114 may be disposed intermittently along theentirety of the inner and outer surface of the carrier of the 4114 asshown in FIG. 42B. The carrier 4112 may include two fasteners 4128. Thetwo fasteners may extend from the carrier extensions 4116. The twofasteners 4128 may extend inward from the inner diameter of the carrier.The two fasteners 4128 may be integral with the carrier 4112.

FIG. 43 illustrates a section view of an exemplary member 4210 in aserpentine configuration. The exemplary member 4210 includes a carrier4212 and activatable material 4214 disposed thereon. The carrier 4212may include one or more carrier extensions 4216. The activatablematerial 4214 may have a varying thickness along the carrier 4212. Theactivatable material 4214 may be located along the entirety of onesurface and along a portion of another surface of the carrier 4212. Thecarrier 4212 may include two fasteners 4228. The two fasteners 4128 mayboth be located toward one side or end of the carrier. The two fasteners4228 may be integral with the carrier 4212.

FIG. 44 illustrates a section view of an exemplary member 4310 withactivatable material 4314 disposed both continuously and intermittentlyon the carrier 4312. The carrier 4312 may include one or more carrierextensions 4316. The carrier extensions 4316 may be substantially planaror may include a curved portion. The activatable material 4314 may bedisposed continuously along portions of the carrier 4312 and theactivatable material 4314 may be disposed intermittently along portionsof the carrier 4312. The carrier 4312 may include two fasteners 4328.The two more fasteners 4328 may be integral with the carrier 4312.

FIG. 45 illustrates a section view of an exemplary member. The exemplarymember 4410 includes a carrier 4412 and activatable material 4414disposed thereon. The carrier 4412 may include one or more carrierextensions 4416. The activatable material 4414 may be located along theentirety of one surface and along a portion of another surface of thecarrier 4412. The carrier 4412 may include two fasteners 4428. The twomore fasteners 4428 may be integral with the carrier 4412.

FIG. 46 illustrates a section view of an exemplary member 4510 in asubstantially L-shaped configuration with activatable material 4514 ofvarying thickness. The carrier 4512 may include one or more carrierextensions 4516. The carrier 4512 may include two fasteners 4528. Afastener 4528 may be located at a central location along the carrier4512. A fastener 4528 may be located toward one side or end of thecarrier. The two fasteners 4528 may be integral with the carrier 4512.

FIG. 47 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary member. Themember 4610 includes a carrier 4612 with an activatable material 4614located thereon. The activatable material 4614 may substantially enclosethe carrier 4612. The activatable material 4614 may have a varyingthickness along an end of the carrier 4212. The carrier 4612 may includeone or more carrier extensions 4616. The carrier 4612 may include one ormore fasteners 4628. The fastener 4628 may be a substantially V-shapedfastener.

FIG. 48 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary member in asubstantially L-shaped configuration. The member 4710 includes a carrier4712 with an activatable material 4714 located thereon. The carrier 4712may include one or more curved portions. The activatable material 4714may have a varying thickness along the carrier 4712. The carrier 4712may include one or more carrier extensions 4716. The carrier extensions4716 may extend at both skew and perpendicular angles. The carrier 4712may include two fasteners 4728. The two fasteners 4728 may be integralwith the carrier 4712.

FIG. 49 illustrates a section view of an exemplary member in asubstantially V-shaped configuration. The member 4810 includes a carrier4812 with an activatable material 4814 located thereon. The activatablematerial 4814 may have a varying thickness along the carrier 4812. Thecarrier 4812 may include one or more carrier extensions 4816. Thecarrier extensions 4816 may extend at both skew and perpendicularangles. The carrier 4812 may include two fasteners 4828. The twofasteners 4828 may both be located on one side of the carrier 4812. Thetwo fasteners 4828 may be integral with the carrier 4812.

FIG. 50 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary member 4910 witha substantially L-shaped carrier 4912 and activatable material 4914disposed thereon. T The activatable material 4914 may extend beyond theends of the carrier 4912. The carrier 4912 may include one or morecarrier extensions 4916. The carrier extensions 4916 may besubstantially planar or may include a curved portion. The activatablematerial 4914 may be located along the entirety of one surface thecarrier 4912. The carrier 4912 may include one or more fasteners 4928.The one or more fasteners 4928 may be integral with the carrier 4912.

Though not necessarily drawn to all geometries relative proportions anddimensions shown in the drawings are also part of the teachings herein,even if not explicitly recited. However, unless otherwise noted, nothingshall limit the teachings herein to the geometries, relativeproportions, and dimensions shown in the drawing.

Unless stated otherwise, dimensions and geometries of the variousstructures depicted herein are not intended to be restrictive of theinvention, and other dimensions or geometries are possible. Pluralstructural components can be provided by a single integrated structure.Alternatively, a single integrated structure might be divided intoseparate plural components. In addition, while a feature of the presentinvention may have been described in the context of only one of theillustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or moreother features of other embodiments, for any given application. It willalso be appreciated from the above that the fabrication of the uniquestructures herein and the operation thereof also constitute methods inaccordance with the present invention.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed. Aperson of ordinary skill in the art would realize however, that certainmodifications would come within the teachings of this invention.Therefore, the following claims should be studied to determine the truescope and content of the invention.

The explanations and illustrations presented herein are intended toacquaint others skilled in the art with the invention, its principles,and its practical application. Those skilled in the art may adapt andapply the invention its numerous forms, as may be best suited to therequirements of a particular use. Accordingly, the specific embodimentsof the present invention as set forth are not intended as beingexhaustive or limiting of the invention. The scope of the inventionshould, therefore, be determined not with reference to the abovedescription, but should instead be determined with reference to theappended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which suchclaims are entitled. The disclosures of all articles and references,including patent applications and publications, are incorporated byreference for all purposes. Other combinations are also possible as willbe gleaned from the following claims, which are also hereby incorporatedby reference into this written description.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An article comprising: (a) a carrier havinga longitudinal axis, including a first end and a second end, and beingflexible, the carrier comprising: (1) a central portion between thefirst end and the second end which extends parallel relative to thelongitudinal axis of the carrier; (2) a first fastener integrally formedwith, and extending from, the central portion and biased toward thefirst end; (3) a second fastener integrally formed with, and extendingfrom, the central portion and biased toward the second end, the secondfastener being longitudinally spaced apart from the first fastenerrelative to the longitudinal axis of the carrier; (4) at least one pairof extensions integrally formed with, and extending from the centralportion, wherein the at least one pair of extensions extend away fromthe central portion in an opposite direction of the first fastener andthe second fastener, and wherein the at least one pair of extensionsdiverge away from each other; and (5) a plurality of other extensionsintegrally formed with, and extending from, the central portion, whereinthe plurality of other extensions extend away from the central portionin a same direction as the first fastener and the second fastener; and(b) an activatable material disposed on the carrier, wherein theactivatable material extends beyond the first end, the second end, orboth of the carrier longitudinally relative to the longitudinal axis ofthe carrier; wherein the first fastener and the second fastener eachhave a first portion which is integrally formed with the central portionand extends away from the central portion and the activatable material,and a second portion integrally formed with and which angles away fromthe first portion toward the central portion such that the first portionand the second portion form a V-shape; wherein the second portion of thefirst fastener angles away from the first portion toward the first endwhile the second portion of the second fastener angles away from thesecond portion toward the second end; wherein the first fastener and thesecond fastener are each flanked by two or more of the plurality ofother extensions; and wherein the article is adapted to provide sealing,baffling, or reinforcement within a cavity of a structure of anautomotive vehicle.
 2. The article of claim 1, wherein the centralportion extends longitudinally beyond the first fastener, the secondfastener, or both.
 3. The article of claim 2, wherein the first fastenerand the second fastener are free of activatable material.
 4. The articleof claim 3, wherein the plurality of other extensions are free of theactivatable material.
 5. The article of claim 4, wherein the activatablematerial is disposed on the carrier in a substantially constantthickness.
 6. The article of claim 5, wherein the central portionincludes an arcuate portion.
 7. The article of claim 5, wherein theactivatable material includes one or more breaks along the carrier suchthat the carrier is locally free of activatable material at the one ormore breaks.
 8. The article of claim 1, wherein the first end and thesecond end of the carrier are covered by the activatable material on atransverse end.
 9. The article of claim 8, wherein the first fastenerand the second fastener adapt to varying distances between receivingholes within the cavity of the structure by flexing of the carrier. 10.The article of claim 1, wherein the carrier includes a first surface anda second surface opposing the first surface; wherein the activatablematerial is disposed on the first surface; and where the at least onepair of projections extend away from the central portion along the firstsurface and into the activatable material.
 11. An article comprising:(a) a carrier having a longitudinal axis, a first surface opposite asecond surface, and being flexible, the carrier having: (i) a centralportion extending parallel relative to the longitudinal axis of thecarrier; (ii) a first fastener integrally formed with, and extendingfrom, the central portion, wherein the first fastener extends from thesecond surface of the carrier; (iii) a second fastener integrally formedwith, and extending from, the central portion, wherein the secondfastener extends from the second surface of the carrier, wherein thesecond fastener is longitudinally spaced apart from the first fastenerrelative to the longitudinal axis of the carrier, and wherein the firstfastener and the second fastener adapt to varying distances betweenreceiving holes within a cavity of a structure by flexing of thecarrier; and (iv) a curved portion formed between the central portionand a first end of the carrier and/or a second end of the carrier; and(b) an activatable material disposed on the carrier, wherein theactivatable material is disposed on the first surface; wherein the firstfastener and the second fastener each have a first portion which isintegrally formed with the central portion and extends away from thecentral portion and the activatable material, and a second portionintegrally formed with the first portion and which angles away from thefirst portion toward the central portion such that the first portion andthe second portion form a V-shape; wherein the second portion of thefirst fastener angles away from the first portion toward the first endof the carrier while the second portion of the second fastener anglesaway from the second portion toward the second end of the carrier,wherein the first end and the second end are on opposing ends of thecarrier relative to the longitudinal axis; and wherein the article isadapted to provide sealing, baffling, or reinforcement within astructure's cavity.
 12. The article of claim 11, wherein the firstfastener and the second fastener extend substantially orthogonally fromthe central portion.
 13. The article of claim 12, wherein the carrierincludes a plurality of pairs of extensions which are integrally formedwith and extend from the central portion; wherein the plurality of pairsof extensions extend away from the first surface and away from the firstfastener and the second fastener; wherein in each pair of extensions,two extensions diverge away from each other as the two extensions extendaway from the first surface; and wherein the first fastener and thesecond fastener are positioned between two pairs of the plurality ofpairs of extensions.
 14. The article of claim 13, wherein the carrierhas a constant profile along an entire length, as measured along thelongitudinal axis.
 15. The article of claim 13, wherein the one or moreends of the carrier are covered by the activatable material on an endalong the longitudinal axis.
 16. The article of claim 11, wherein thecarrier has a constant profile along an extrusion axis, and theextrusion axis is the same or parallel to the longitudinal axis of thecarrier.
 17. The article of claim 16, wherein the activatable materialextends beyond one or more ends of the carrier transversely relative tothe longitudinal axis of the carrier.
 18. The article of claim 17,wherein the activatable material includes one or more breaks along thecarrier such that the carrier is locally free of activatable material atthe one or more breaks.
 19. The article of claim 11, wherein the carrierincludes a plurality of extensions integrally formed with, and extendingfrom, the central portion, wherein the plurality of extensions extendaway from the central portion in a same direction as the first fastenerand the second fastener; and wherein the first fastener and the secondfastener are each flanked by two or more of the plurality of extensions.20. An article comprising: (a) a carrier having a longitudinal axis,having a first end and a second end, and being flexible, wherein thecarrier includes: (i) a central portion between the first end and thesecond end which extends parallel relative to the longitudinal axis ofthe carrier, (ii) a curved portion between the central portion and thefirst end or between the central portion and the second end; (iii) afirst fastener integrally formed with, and extending from, the centralportion; (iv) a second fastener integrally formed with, and extendingfrom, the central portion, wherein the first fastener and the secondfastener are longitudinally spaced apart relative to the longitudinalaxis of the carrier, and wherein the first fastener and the secondfastener adapt to varying distances between receiving holes within acavity of a structure by flexing of the carrier; (iv) a plurality ofextensions integrally formed with and extending from the centralportions, wherein the plurality of extension extend away from thecentral portion in a same direction as the first fastener and the secondfastener; and (b) an activatable material disposed on the carrier;wherein the first fastener and the second fastener are each flanked bytwo or more of the plurality of extension; and wherein the article isconfigured as an extruded profile and adapted to provide sealing,baffling, or reinforcement within a structure's cavity.